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Janet Braam
Professor
Wiess Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
e-mail:[email protected]
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Ph.D., Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences,
Sloan-Kettering Division, Molecular Biology and Virology
(1985)
B.S., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Zoology
(1980)
Primary Department
Department of BioSciences
Department Affiliations
 Environmental and Energy Systems Institute
 Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Other Affiliations
 Baylor College of Medicine
Websites
Braam lab
Research Areas
Abiotic stress responses; the circadian clock; plant defense; autophagy regulation; fungal
perception; genetic control of seed development; nanoparticle-plant interactions
Research Statement 2013
Plants are unable to escape from harsh environments and perhaps as a consequence have
evolved the ability to undergo adaptive changes in physiology and development. The
mechanisms by which plants sense environmental stresses, transduce signals into cells and
regulate cellular and organismal alterations are largely unknown.
We have taken a molecular approach to investigating these
aspects of plant biology. The TCH genes of Arabidopsis are rapidly
and strongly upregulated in expression in response to various
environmental stimuli, including the seemingly innocuous stimulus
of touch. These genes are powerful molecular tools for
investigating how plants perceive environmental conditions and
how they mount responses. We are investigating the cellular and
genetic elements that control TCH expression and the biochemical
and physiological functions of the TCH products. The TCH genes
encode calmodulin, calmodulin-related proteins and a xyloglucan
endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) predicted to act in
modifying the plant cell wall. Current data support a hypothesis that the TCH proteins
collaborate in the fundamental process of plant cell expansion.
Selected Publications
Refereed articles
Koo, Y, Lukianova-Hleb, EY, Pan, J., Thompson, SM, Lapotko, DO, and Braam, J. In planta
response of Arabidopsis to photothermal impact mediated by gold nanoparticles, Small, in
press (2015).
Liu, John D, Goodspeed, Danielle, Sheng, Zhengji, Li, Baohua, Yang, Yiran, Daniel J,
Kliebenstein and Janet Braam "Keeping the rhythm: light/dark cycles during postharvest
storage preserve the tissue integrity and nutritional content of leafy plants." BMC Plant
Biology 15: 92. (2015)
Koo Y, Wang J, Zhang Q, Zhu H, Chehab EW, Colvin VL, Alvarez PJ, and Braam
J. Fluorescence Reports Intact Quantum Dot Uptake into Roots and Translocation to Leaves
of Arabidopsis thaliana and Subsequent Ingestion by Insect Herbivores. Environ Sci
Technol. 49:626-32 (2015)
Lukianova-Hleb, EY, Campbell, KM, Constantinou, PE, Braam, J, Olson, JS, Ware, RE,
Sullivan, DJ, Lapotko, DO. Hemozoin-generated vapor nanobubbles for transdermal reagentand needle-free detection of malaria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
111:900-905 (2014).
Wang J, Yang Y, Zhu H, Braam J, Schnoor JL, and Alvarez PJ. Uptake, translocation, and
transformation of quantum dots with cationic versus anionic coatings by Populus deltoides ×
nigra cuttings. Environ Sci Technol. 48:6754-6762 (2014)
Zhu XF, Wan JX, Sun Y, Shi YZ, Braam J, Li GX, and Zheng SJ. Xyloglucan
Endotransglucosylase-Hydrolase17 interacts with xyloglucan endotransglucosylasehydrolase31 to confer xyloglucan endotransglucosylase action and affect aluminum sensitivity
in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 165:1566-1574. (2014)
Zhu, Xiao Fang, Wan, JX, Sun, Y, Shi, YZ, Braam, J, Li, GX, Zheng, SJ. XTH17 interacts with
XTH31 to confer XET action and affect aluminum sensitivity in Arabidopsis, Plant Physiology,
165: 1566-1574 (2014).
Goodspeed, D, Liu, JD, Chehab, EW, Sheng, Z, Francisco, M, Kliebenstein, DJ, Braam, J. Post
harvest circadian entrainment enhances crop pest resistance and phytochemical cycling,
Current Biology, 23: 1235-1241 (2013).
Goodspeed, D, Chehab, EW, Covington, M, Braam, J. Circadian control of jasmonates and
salicylates: the clock role in plant defense. Plant Signaling and Behavior 8: e23123 (2013).
Kim, S, Schlicke, H, Van Ree, K, Karvonen, K, Subramaniam, A, Richter, A, Grimm, B, and
Braam, J. Arabidopsis chlorophyll biosynthesis: an essential balance between the
methylerythritol phosphate and tetrapyrrole pathways. Plant Cell, 25:4984-4993 (2013).
Wang, J, Koo, Y, Alexander, A, Yang, Y, Westerhof, S, Zhang, Q, Schnoor, JL, Colvin, VL,
Braam, J, Alvarez, PJJ. Phyto-stimulation of poplars and Arabidopsis exposed to silver
nanoparticles and Ag+ at sub-lethal concentrations, Environmental Science and
Technology, 47: 5442-5449 (2013).
Zhao, Y, Liu, W, Xu, Y-P, Cao, J-Y, Braam, J, Cai, X-Z. Genome-wide identification and
functional analyses of calmodulin genes in Solanaceous species, BMC Plant Biology, doi:
10.1186/1471-2229-13-70 (2013).
Zhu, XF, Lei, GJ, Yan, JY, Wang, ZW, Shi, YZ, Braam, J, Li, GX, Zheng, SJ. Coordination
between apoplastic and symplastic detoxification confers plant Al resistance, Plant
Physiology, 162: 1947-1955. (2013).
Chehab, EW, Yao, C, Henderson, Z, Kim, S, and Braam, J. Arabidopsis touch-induced
morphogenesis is jasmonate mediated and protects against pests, Current Biology 22: 701706 (2012).
Goodspeed, D, Chehab, EW, Min-Venditti, A, Braam, J* and Covington, MC. Arabidopsis
synchronizes jasmonate-dependent defense with insect circadian behavior. (*corresponding
author) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 109: 4674-4677 (2012).
Hubbard, K.E., Gardner, M.J., Aubry, S., Hotta, C.T., Haydon, M., del Carmen, M., Ruiz, M.,
Schoepfer, D., Robertson, F.C., Briggs, H., Tsai, Y.-C., Dodd, A.N., Carre, I., Braam, J., and
Webb, A.A.R. "Calcium is a switch in the Arabidopsis circadian clock." Submitted
Tsai, Y.-C., Koo, Y., Delk, N.A., Gehl, B., and Braam, J. Calmodulin-related CML24 interacts
ATG4b and affects autophagy regulation in Arabidopsis, Plant Journal, 73: 325-335 (2012).
Zhu, XF, Shi, YZ, Lei, GJ, Fry, SC, Zhang, BC, Zhou, YH, Braam, J, Jiang, T, Pan, YJ, Yang,
JL, Wu, P, Zheng, SJ. XTH31 controls Al sensitivity by modulating the XET action of an XEHactive enzyme, cell wall xyloglucan content and Al binding capacity in Arabidopsis, Plant Cell
24: 4731-4747 (2012).
Chehab, E.W., Kim, S., Savchenko, T., Kliebenstein, D., Dehesh, K., and Braam, J. "Intronic
T-DNA insertion renders Arabidopsis opr3 a conditional JA-producing mutant." Plant Physiol.,
156 (2011) : 770-778.
Van Ree, K., Gehl, B., Chehab, E.W., Tsai, Y.-C., and Braam, J. "Arabidopsis nitric oxide
accumulation is independent of NOA1 in the presence of sucrose." Plant Journal, 68 (2011) :
225-233.
Wang, Y., Wang, B., Chehab, E.W., Gilroy, S., Braam, J. "CML24 is involved in root
mechanoresponses and cortical microtubule orientation in Arabidopsis." J Plant Growth
Regulation, 30 (2011) : 467-479.
Ji J. and Braam J. "Restriction Site Extension PCR: A Novel Method for High-Throughput
Characterization of Tagged DNA Fragments and Genome Walking." PLoS One, 5 (2010) :
e10577.
Lee, C. W., Mahendra, S., Zodrow, K., Li, D., Tsai, Y.-C., Braam, J., Alvarez, P.J.J.
"Developmental phytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles to Arabidopsis thaliana." Environ.
Toxicol. Chem., 29 (2010) : 669-675.
Chehab, E.W., Eich, E., and Braam, J. "Thigmomorphogenesis: A complex plant response to
mechano-stimulation." J Exp Bot, 60 (2009) : 43-56.
Ma, W, Smigel, A., Tsai, Y.-C., Braam, J., and Berkowitz, G.A. "Innate immunity signaling:
cytosolic Ca2+ elevation is linked to downstream nitric oxide generation through the action of
calmodulin or a calmodulin-like protein." Plant Physiol., 148 (2008) : 818-828.
Tsai, Y.-C., Delk, N.A., Chowdhury, N.I., and Braam, J. "Arabidopsis potential calcium sensors
regulate nitric oxide levels and the transition to flowering." Plant Signaling & Behavior, 2
(2007) : 446-454.
Becnel, J., Natarajan, M., Kipp, A., and Braam, J. "Developmental expression patterns of
Arabidopsis XTH genes reported by transgenes and genevestigator." Plant Molecular Biology,
61 (2006) : 451-467.
Braam, J. "Tansley review. In touch: Plant responses to mechanical stimuli." New Phytologist,
165 (2005) : 373-389.
Delk, N., Johnson, K.A., Chowdhury, N.I., and Braam, J. "CML24, regulated in expression by
diverse stimuli, encodes a potential Ca2+ sensor that functions in responses to ABA, day
length and ion stress." Plant Physiol., 139 (2005) : 240-253.
Lee, D., Polisensky, D.H., and Braam, J. "Genome-wide identification of touch and darknessregulated Arabidopsis genes: A Focus on calmodulin-like and XTH genes." New Phytologist,
165 (2005) : 429-444.
McCormack, E., Tsai,Y.-C., and Braam, J. "Handling calcium signaling: Arabidopsis CaMs and
CMLs." Trends Plant Sci., 10 (2005) : 383-389.
McCormack, E., and Braam, J. "Calmodulins and Related Potential Calcium Sensors of
Arabidopsis." New Phytologist, 159 (2003) : 585-598.
Iliev, E., Xu, W., Polisensky, D.H., Oh, M.-O., Torisky, R.S., Clouse, S.D., and Braam, J.
"Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Regulation of Arabidopsis TCH4 Expression by Diverse
Stimuli: Roles of cis Regions and Brassinosteroids." Plant Physiol., 130 (2002) : 770-783.
Rose, J.K.C., Braam, J., Fry, S.C., and Nishitani, K. "The XTH Family of Enzymes Involved in
Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylation and Endohydrolasis: Current Prospectives and a New
Unifying Nomenclature." Plant & Cell Physiol., 43 (2002) : 1421-1435.
Steele, N.M., Sulova, Z., Campbell, P., Braam, J., Farkas, V., and Fry, S.C. "Ten Isoenzymes
of Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase from Plant Cell Walls Select and Cleave the Donor
Substrate Stochastically." Biochem. J., 355 (2001) : 671-679.
Campbell, P., and Braam, J. "In vitro Activities of Four Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylases from
Arabidopsis." Plant J., 18 (1999) : 371-382.
Campbell, P., and Braam, J. "Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylases: Diversity of Genes, Enzymes
and Potential Wall-modifying Functions." Trends in Plant Sci., 4 (1999) : 361-366.
Campbell, P., and Braam, J. "Co- and Post-translational Modifications Are Critical for TCH4 XET
Activity." Plant J., 15 (1998) : 553-561.
Johnson, K.A., Sistrunk, M.L., Polisensky, D.H., and Braam, J. "Arabidopsis thaliana Responses
to Mechanical Stimuli Do not Require ETR1 or EIN2." Plant Physiol., 116 (1998) : 643-649.
Antosiewicz, D.M., Purugganan, M.M., Polisensky, D.H., and Braam, J. "Cellular localization of
Arabidopsis Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase-related Proteins During Development and After
Wind Stimulation." Plant Physiol., 115 (1997) : 1319-1328.
Braam, J., Sistrunk, M.L., Polisensky, D.H., Xu, W., Purugganan, M.M., Antosiewicz, D.M.,
Campbell, P., and Johnson, K.A. "Plant Responses to Environmental Stress: Regulation and
Function of the Arabidopsis TCH Genes." Planta, 203 (1997) : S35-S41.
Khan, A.R., Johnson, K.A., Braam, J., and James, M.N.G. "Comparative Modeling of the Threedimensional Structure of the Calmodulin-related TCH2 Protein from Arabidopsis." Proteins:
Structure, Function and Genetics, 27 (1997) : 144-153.
Purugganan, M.M., Braam, J., and Fry, S.C. "The Arabidopsis TCH4 Xyloglucan
Endotransglycosylase: Substrate Specificity, pH Optimum, and Cold Tolerance." Plant Physiol.,
115 (1997) : 181-190.
Antosiewicz, D.M., Polisensky, D.H., and Braam, J. "Cellular Localization of the Ca2+ Binding
TCH3 Protein of Arabidopsis." Plant Journal, 8 (1995) : 623-636.
Braam, J. "Regulated expression of the calmodulin-related TCH genes in cultured Arabidopsis
cells: induction by calcium and heat shock." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
89 (1992) : 3213-3216.
Braam, J. "Regulation of expression of calmodulin and calmodulin-related genes by
environmental stimuli in plants." Cell Calcium, 13 (1992) : 457-463.
Book chapters
Chehab, EW and Braam, J. Jasmonates in plant defense responses, Invited book chapter,
Signaling and Communication in Plants, edited by František Baluška and Jorge Vivanco,
Spring Press, pp. 67-88 (2012).
Chehab, E.W., Wang, Y., Braam, J. "Mechanical force responses in plant cells and
plants." Mechanical Integration in Plant Cells and Plants, Signaling and Communication in
Plants (2011) : 173-194.
McCormack, E., Velasquez, L., Delk, N., and Braam, J. "Touch-responsive behaviors and gene
expression in plants." Communication in Plants: Neuronal Aspects of Plant Life (2006) : 249261.
Braam, J. "Touch-induced regulation of expression of the calmodulin-related TCH genes and
thigmomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis." Plant Growth Substances (1992) : 82-95.
Braam, J., Davis, R.W. "The mechanosensory pathway in Arabidopsis: Touch-induced
regulation of expression of calmodulin and calmodulin-related genes and alterations of
development." Current Topics in Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, 9 (1990) : 85-100.
Conference papers
Braam, J. "The Arabidopsis TCH Genes: Regulated in Expression by
Mechanotransduction?." Plant Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Agriculture: Role of Genetic
Engineering. NATO Advance Research Workshop Proceedings (2000) : pp. 29-37.
Braam, J "Developmental and molecular responses to touch in plants.." Society for
Developmental Biology Symposia (1993) : 185-198.
Presentations
Invited Talks
"Attention Herbivores: Plants Fight Back"
Gordon Research Conference Chronobiology, Girona, Spain, June 2015
"Circadian Rhythms: How Cycling of Plant-Biology may Impact Nutrition"
Health and Food: Is there a Future?
Alberta Institute of Agrologists, Banff, Alberta, Canada, April 2015
"Anticipation of Attack: The Clock and Plant Defense." SECTS for Clocks, Houston, TX. (March
2014)
"Timing Plant Defense: Attention Herbivores!." Society for Research on Biological Rhythms,
Big Sky, MT. (June 2014)
"Timing is Everything: How the Plant Circadian Clock Enhances Defense." Keystone Meeting,
Breckinridge, CO. (February 2014)
"Plant Defense: Roles for Time and Touch." Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. (April)
"Arabidopsis Touch-Induced Morphogenesis is Jasmonate Mediated and Protects Against
Pests." American Society of Plant Biology 2012, Austin TX. (July 2012) With Wassim Chehab
"Arabidopsis synchronizes jasmonate-mediated defense with insect circadian behavior." 21st
annual Southeastern and Central Texas Society (SECTS) for Clocks meeting, Center for
Biological Clocks Research (CBCR) at Texas A&M University. (March 31, 2012)
"Maintenance of the circadian clock promotes biotic stress resistance.." Workshop: Building
linkages between plant scientists attending Plant Biology 2012 and African bioscientists, (July
2012)
"Plant Defense: Roles for Touch and Time." Seminar Speaker, Washington State University,
Pullman, WA. (June 2012)
"Plant Defense: Roles for Touch and Time." Invited Seminar Speaker, University of Waterloo,
Waterloo, ON. (May 2012)
"Plant Defense: Roles for Touch and Time." Invited Seminar Speaker, University of Idaho,
Biological Sciences, Moscow, ID. (May 2012)
"Plants Defend Themselves Against Herbivores and Fungal Attack by Using the Circadian Clock
to Control Jasmonate Levels." American Society of Plant Biology 2012, Austin TX. (July 2012)
With Danielle Goodspeed
"A Role for CML24 in ATG4 Autophagy." Genetics Dept Seminar, University of Wisconsin, (June
2010)
"Calcium sensors function in plant responses to environmental stress." NASA Center for
Bionanotechnology and Environmental Research, Texas Southern University. (February 2010)
"Diverse roles of a potential calcium sensor implicated in plant responses to stress."
Brookhaven National Labs, New York. (March 2010)
"Potentially Novel Regulation of ATG4 and Autophagy via a Calmodulin-like Protein in Plants."
Autophagy Symposium, University Texas Health Science Center, (June 2010)
"ATG4 and autophage regulation in plants." Autophagy Workshop, Baylor College of Medicine.
(January 2009)
"Autophagy regulation: Novel role of plant calcium sensor." Biological Sciences, University of
Montana, Missoula. (July 2009)
"Autophagy regulation: Novel role of plant calcium sensor." Rocky Mountain Labs, Hamilton,
Montana. (July 2009)
"Autophagy regulation: Novel role of plant calcium sensor." Cell and Molecular Biology seminar
series, University of Texas, San Antonio. (March 2009)
"Keeping Calm Under Stress: Potential Links in Calcium Signaling, Nitric Oxide Accumulation,
and Autophagy in Plant Cells." Institute of Bioscience and Bioengineering Symposium, Rice
University, Houston, Texas. (July 2008)
"Roles of Calmodulin-like Proteins in Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli." Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. (April 2008)
"Roles of Calmodulin-like Proteins in Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli." Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (April 2008)
"Roles of Calmodulin-like Proteins in Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli." Charles Rick
Symposium, University of California, Davis, California. (April 2008)
"Arabidopsis Calcium Sensors Regulate Transition to Flowering and Nitric Oxide Accumulation."
American Society of Plant Biologists, Chicago, Illinois. (July 2007) With Tsai, Y.-C.
Graduate Research Advisor. "Arabidopsis Calcium Sensors Regulate Transition to Flowering
and Nitric Oxide Accumulation." Biochemistry & Cell Biology Retreat, Chain-o-Lakes Resort,
Texas. (August 2006) With Yu-Chang Tsai
"Expression Regulation and Functions of Arabidopsis Xyloglucan
Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolases." Minisymposium on Cell Walls, American Society of Plant
Biology, Boston, Massachusetts. (August 2006) With Melissa Mezzari
"Plant Responses to the Environment: Roles of Calcium Sensors and Cell Wall Modifying
Enzymes." Purdue University Seminar Series, West Lafayette, Indiana. (November 2006)
"Potential Calcium Sensor Proteins Function in Perception and/or Response to Environmental
Stimuli." Second Plant Neurobiology Meeting, Beijing, China. (May 20-27, 2006)
"Roles of Arabidopsis XTHs in Environmental Responses." Gordon Research Conference on
Plant Cell Walls, Biddeford, Maine. (July-August 2006)
"Plasticity of Wind-induced Gene Regulation." SUNY, Stony Book, New York. (November 21,
2005)
"Regulation and Function of CML23 and CML24: Calmodulin-like Genes in Arabidopsis." MD
Anderson Cancer Research Center, Houston, Texas. (June 2005) With Nikki Delk
"Regulation and Function of CML23 and CML24: Calmodulin-like Genes in Arabidopsis." Baylor
College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. (June 2005) With Nikki Delk
"Regulation and Function of CML23 and CML24: Calmodulin-like Genes in Arabidopsis." Rice
University Biochemistry & Cell Biology Retreat, Chain-O-Lakes Retreat, Texas. (August 2005)
With Nikki Delk
"Regulation and Function of XTH Genes of Arabidopsis." Plant Cell Wall Biosynthesis Meeting,
Asilomar, California. (August 4-7, 2005)
"Responses to Mechanical Stress." Rice University Biochemistry & Cell Biology Retreat, ChainO-Lakes Retreat, Texas. (August 2005) With Luis Velasquez
"Touch Responsive Gene Expression." First Symposium on Plant Neurobiology, Florence, Italy.
(May 17-20)
"Calcium Binding Proteins of Arabidopsis." Calcium Workshop, New Braunfels, Texas. (March
12-14, 2004)
"Responses to Abiotic Stress." Keystone Symposium, Santa Fe, New Mexico. (February 19-24,
2004)
"Mechanostimulus Responses of Plants: Touch Inducible Gene Expression in Arabidopsis."
Institute of Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. (December
2002)
"Perception and Response to the Environment: Regulation and Functions of Calmodulin-like
Proteins and Cell Wall Modifying XTH Proteins of Arabidopsis." Plant Biology Seminar Series of
the Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) and the Department of Plant Biology, East Lansing,
Michigan. (January 2003)
"Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli: Molecular Genetic Approaches." Mini-symposium
on Interdisciplinary Biology at Rice University, Houston, Texas. (January 2003)
"Regulation and Functions of TCH4 and Related XTHs." 14th International Conference of
Arabidopsis Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison. (June 20-24, 2003)
"Sensing the Environment: Regulation and Roles of Cell Wall Modifying and Calmodulin-like
Genes of Arabidopsis." University of Texas-Austin Seminar Series, Austin, Texas. (April 2003)
"Sensing the Environment: Regulation and Roles of Cell Wall Modifying and Calmodulin-like
Genes of Arabidopsis." Biotechnology Symposium, Stephen F. Austin State University,
Nacogdoches, Texas. (April 2003)
"The Arabidopsis TCH Genes: Tools for Investigating Plant Responses to Environmental
Stimuli." 4th International Plant Biomechanics Conference, Michigan State University. (July
20-25, 2003)
"Regulation and Function of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase-encoding TCH4 Gene of
Arabidopsis." invited speaker, Plant Cell Wall Biosynthesis Meeting, UCLA Lake Arrowhead
Conference Center. (May 12-15, 2002)
"Women in Science." Rice University Scholar Program, Houston, Texas. (2002)
"Arabidopsis XETs: Regulation and Function." Plant Protein Club Workshop "Added Value
Products from Plants 2: Cell Wall Components", University of York, United Kingdom. (March
21-23, 2001)
"Molecular and Developmental Responses of Plants to Mechanical Forces." Invited speaker,
Gravitational Effects on Living Systems: Mechanosensing, Connecticut College, New London,
Connecticut. (July 1-6, 2001)
"Regulation and Functions of the Arabidopsis TCH Genes." Department of Plant Sciences
Seminar Series, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. (April 2, 2001)
"Regulation of Plant Gene Expression by Mechanical Force." NASA Cell Science Conference,
Houston, Texas. (March 6-8, 2001)
"Regulation and Function of the Stress-Induced TCH Genes of Arabidopsis." 1999 Gordon
Research Conference on Temperature Stress in Plants, Ventura, California. (January 31February 5, 1999)
"Regulation and Functions of the Touch-induced Genes Encoding Calmodulin-related and XET
Proteins of Arabidopsis." Seminar, Department of Biology, Penn State University. (April, 1999)
"Regulation and Functions of the Touch-induced Genes Encoding Calmodulin-related and XET
Proteins of Arabidopsis." Plant Biology Section, Nobel Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. (May,
1999)
"Regulation and functions of the Arabidopsis Calmodulin-related and XE-related TCH Genes."
Invited Speaker, NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Mrogowa, Poland. (June, 1999)
"Regulation and functions of the Arabidopsis Calmodulin-related and XE-related TCH Genes."
Invited Speaker, XVI International Botanical Congress, St. Louis, Missouri. (August, 1999)
"Regulation and Functions of the Mechanosensitive TCH Genes of Arabidopsis." Invited
Speaker, 19th Annual International Gravitatonal Physiology Meeting, Rome, Italy. (May-June,
1998)
Lectures
"Life is Incredible." Rice University, Houston, TX. (February 2013)
"The Surprising Behavior of Plants: Powers of Perception and Resilience." Science Cafe,
Houston, TX. (October 2013)
"Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli." IGERT, Rice University, Houston, Texas. (July
2006)
"Believing the Wrong Result: Personal Lessons in Scientific Discovery." Continuing Education,
Rice University, Houston, Texas. (April 4, 2002)
Panelist
"How and When to Negotiate a Good Start Up Package”; “Practice Chair Interview” and
“Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position Workshop." NSF ADVANCE Program, (September 2010)
Posters
"CML24, a potential calcium and redox sensor, functions in nitric oxide accumulation." Plant
Responses to Environmental Stress, Keystone Meeting, Big Sky, Montana. (January, 2009)
With YC Tsai
"Innate immunity signaling: cytosolic Ca2+ elevation as an early signal is linked to
downstream nitric oxide generation through the action of calmodulin or a calmodulin-like
protein." Plant Biology, Merida, Mexico. (June, 2008) With W. Ma, A. Smigel, Y.-C. Tsai, G.A.
Berkowitz
"Arabidopsis Calcium Sensors Regulate Transition to Flowering and Nitric Oxide Accumulation."
American Society of Plant Biologists, Chicago, Illinois. (July 2007) With Tsai, Y.-Ch., Delk, N.,
and Chowdhury, N.
"CNGC2-Mediated Ca Conductance into the Cell Acts Upstream from Nitric Oxide Generation in
the Hypersensitive Response to Pathogens and Is Linked through CaM and/or CaM-like
Regulation of Nitric Oxide Production." American Society of Plant Biologists, Chicago, Illinois.
(July 2007) With Ma, W., Smigel, A., Tsai, Y.-C., and Berkowitz, G.
"Changes in GABA Shunt Metabolites in Calmodulin Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana under
Abiotic Stresses." American Society of Plant Biologists, July 2007. (Chicago, Illinois) With AlQuraan, N., Locy, R., and Singh, N.
"Involvement of Calmodulin in GABA Shunt Regulation and Thermotolerance in Arabidopsis
thaliana under Heat Stress." American Society of Plant Biologists, July 2007. (Chicago, Illinois)
With Al-Quraan, N., Locy, R., and Singh, N.
Graduate Research Advisor. "Arabidopsis Calcium Sensors Regulate Transition to Flowering
and Nitric Oxide Accumulation." American Society of Plant Biology, Boston, Massachusetts.
(August 2006) With Yu Chang Tsai
Postdoctoral advisor. "Expression Regulation and Functions of Arabidopsis Xyloglucan
Endotransglucosylate/Hydrolases." American Society of Plant Biology, Boston, Massachusetts.
(August 2006) With Melissa Mezzari
"The Roles of OPR1 and OPR2 in TNT and RDX Reduction Reactions." American Society of
Plant Biology Meeting, Seattle, Washington. (July 2005) With Melissa Mezzari
"Thigmomorphogenesis and Disease Resistance in Arabidopsis." American Society of Plant
Biologists Meeting, Seattle, Washington. (July 2005) With Luis Velasquez
"CaMs and CMLs as Potential Mediators of Calcium Signaling in Arabidopsis." ASPB Plant
Biology 2004, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (July 2004) With E. McCormack
"The XTHs of Arabidopsis: Function and Expression Regulation." ASPB Plant Biology 2004,
Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (July 2004) With B. Porter and J. Becnel
"Biochemistry and Cell Biology--From Graduate School to Career." Louis Stokes Alliance for
Minority Participation, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. (July 12-14,
2002) With N. Delk
"Expression of XTHs in Arabidopsis." Rice University Undergraduate Research Symposium,
Rice University, Houston, Texas. (Spring 2002) With A. Kipp and J. Becnel
"Mutant Analysis to Determine the Physiological Function of the Arabidopsis TCH2 Protein."
The Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), Houston, Texas. (June 21,
2002) With N. Delk
"Physiological and Biochemical Function of the Arabidopsis TCH2 Protein." American Society of
Plant Biologists Plant Biology 2002, Denver, Colorado. (August 3-7, 2002) With N. Delk and
K.A. Johnson
"The XTH Family of Arabidopsis thaliana." American Society of Plant Biologists Meeting,
Denver, Colorado. (August 2002) With J. Becnel
"Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylases of Arabidopsis: Diversity of Genes, Expression Regulation
and Function." 12th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, (June 2002) With J.
Becnel and P. Campbell
Seminar Speaker
Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Horticultural Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, November 2015
Biology Department, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, November 2015
"Plant Defense: Roles for Touch and Time." Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA. (November
2014)
"Plant Defense: Roles for Touch and Time." Penn State University, State College, PA. (October
2013)
Session Chair
"Plant Insect Interaction Minisymposium." American Society of Plant Biology 2012, Austin TX.
(July 2012)
"Signal Transduction." American Society of Plant Biologists, Chicago, Illinois. (July 2007)
"Minisymposium on Cell Walls." American Society of Plant Biology, Boston, Massachusetts.
(August 2006)
"Molecular Biology." Second symposium on Plant Neurobiology, Beijing, China. (May 20-27,
2006)
"Plant-to-Plant Communication and Ecophysiology." Plant Neurobiology Symposium, Florence,
Italy. (May 2005)
Editorial Positions
Associate Editor, Plant Signaling and Behavior (2005 - 2011). (2011 - 2011)
Member of the Editorial Board, Plant Signaling and Behavior. (2010 - 2010)
Member of the Editorial Board, Plant Signaling and Behavior. (2009 - 2009)
Member of the Editorial Board, Plant Signaling and Behavior. (2008 - 2008)
Supervised Theses & Dissertations
Sherry LeClere, Ph.D. Analysis of the Function and Metabolism of Indole-3-Acetic Acid
Conjugates in Arabidopsis thaliana. (2002) (Committee Member)
Bethany Zolman, Ph.D. Genetic Analysis of Indole-3-Butyric Acid Response Mutants
inArabidopsis thaliana. (2002) (Committee Member)
Monica Magidin, Ph.D. Genetic Analysis of Auxin Homeostasis: Conjugate Sensitivity and Auxin
Supersensitivity. (2002) (Committee Member)
Breanna Ullmann, Ph.D. Identification and Characterization of Yeast Genes Involved in
Defense against Oxidative Stress Induced by Macrophages. (2003) (Committee Member)
Dennis Lee, Ph.D. Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli: A Screen for Mutants in TCH4
Expression Behavior, and a Full-genome Assessment of Touch and Darkness Inducibility.
(2004) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Rebekah Norman Rampey, Ph.D. Genetic Analysis of IAA-Conjugate Sensitivity in Arabidopsis
thaliana: Hydrolysis, Transcriptional Regulation, and Metal Homeostasis. (2004) (Committee
Member)
Melanie Monroe-Augustus, Ph.D. Genetic Approaches to Elucidating the Mechanisms of Indole3-Acetic Acid and Indole-3-butyric Acid Function in Arabidopsis thaliana. (2004) (Committee
Member)
Donna Pattison, Ph.D. Characterization of Sugar-Insensitive Mutants and Analysis of SugarRegulated Gene Expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. (2004) (Committee Member)
Elizabeth McCormack, Ph.D. Arabidopsis CAMs and CMLs: Regulation and Functions of Genes
Encoding Potential Calcium Sensors. (2005) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
A. Raquel Adham, Ph.D. Molecular and Genetic Analysis of IBA Homeostasis and Action in
Arabidopsis. (2005) (Committee Member)
Andrew Woodward, Ph.D. Genes, Organelles, and Molecules that Influence Plant Development
Through Auxin Regulation. (2005) (Committee Member)
Nikkí Ayanna Delk, Ph.D. Regulation and Function of CML23 and CML24: Arabidopsis thaliana
Genes Encoding Ca2+-Binding Proteins Implicated in Abscisic Acid Response, Floral Transition
and Ion Homeostasis. (2006) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Jaime Becnel, Ph.D. Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolases of Arabidopsis: Expression
and Functions of a Gene Family. (2006) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Jeanne Rasbery, Ph.D. Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of the Squalene Epoxidase
Gene Family in Arabidopsis thaliana. (2007) (Committee Member)
Kathryn Luke, Ph.D. Exploring the Envelope of Life: Folding and Assembly Reactions of the
Hyper-Thermostable Co-Chaperonin Protein 10 from Aquifex aeolicus. (2007) (Committee
Member)
Wiriya Chiranand, Ph.D. Regulation of Nitrosative Stress Response in the Fungal Pathogen
Candida albicans by CTA4, a DNA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor. (2007) (Committee
Member)
Xiaoyang Bai, Ph.D. The Molecular Mechanism of Membrane Fusion in the Yeast S. cerevisiae.
(2007) (Committee Member)
Song Liu, Ph.D. In Vitro Fusion Catalyzed by the Sporulation-Specific t-SNARE Light-chain
Spo20p Is Stimulated by Phosphatidic Acid. (2007) (Committee Member)
Yitai Tang, Ph.D. Characterization of CnrN-mediated Size Regulation in Dictyostelium. (2007)
(Committee Member)
Catherine McCollum, Ph.D. Zebrafish lmo4b Restricts the Size of the Embryonic Forebrain and
Eyes Through six3b and rx3, and is Regulated by Extracellular Signals in Patterning the Eye
Along the Proximodistal Axis. (2007) (Committee Member)
Song Liu, Ph.D. In Vitro Fusion Catalyzed by the Sporulation-Specific t-SNARE Light-chain
Spo20p Is Stimulated by Phosphatidic Acid. (2007) (Committee Member)
Diana Dugas, Ph.D. Genetic Analysis of MicroRNA Function in Arabidopsis Development.
(2007) (Committee Member)
Liping Dong, M.A. Functional and Structural Studies of the Influenza A Virus Polymerase
Subunit PB1 and its Subcomplex with the Subunit PA. (2007) (Committee Member)
Leighann Sullivan, Ph.D. Molecular and Genomic Analyses in Clostridium acetobutylicum.
(2008) (Committee Member)
Naxhiely Martinez, PhD Insights into Peroxisome Matrix Protein Import and IBA Metabolism
Through Analysis of IBA-response Mutants. (2010) (Committee Member)
Yu-Chang Tsai, PhD Functions of CML24: A potential calcium sensor of Arabidopsis. (2010)
(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Nana Hanson, MA Uncovering the signal transduction pathway that regulates the proliferation
of Dictyostelium. (2010) (Committee Member)
Chelsey McKenna, PhD The role of Semaphorin3A/Neuropilin1 and Semaphorin3F/Neuropilin2
in the development of innervations and vascularization of the cornea. (2012) (Committee
Member)
Jed Lynn, PhD Anticipation of Nitric Oxide Stress in the Human Commensal Fungus Candida
albicans. (2012) (Committee Member)
Sarah Burkhart, PhD Using forward genetics to elucidate peroxisome biogenesis and
peroxisome-associated protein degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana. (2013) (Committee
Member)
Jonathan Phillips, PhD Regulation of cell number and cell movement by autocrine signaling in
Dictyostelium discoideum. (2013) (Committee Member)
Avani Verma, PhD Characterization of Proteins Involved in Intracellular Membrane FusionAtlastin and Munc18c. (2013) (Committee Member)
Danielle Goodspeed, PhD The Plant Circadian Clock Regulates Biotic Stress Resistance and
Defense Hormone Levels. (2013) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Tanvi Desai, PhD Characterization of Structure and Function Relationship between Domains of
the ER Membrane Protein Atlastin. (2013) (Committee Member)
John Liu, PhD The Plant Circadian Clock: Roles in Jasmonate Accumulation and Postharvest
Plant Performanc. (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Yun-Ting Kao, PhD Using chemical genetics and reverse genetics to study peroxisome
biogenesis and peroxin functions. (Committee Member)
Yanwan Dai, PhD TBD. (Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Pierce G Young, PhD Identifying the molecular components of pexophagy in Arabidopsis
thaliana. (Committee Member)
Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
IBB Hamill Award, IBB Hamill
Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists, American Society of Plant Biologists (2014)
IBB Medical Innovations Award, Tietze Family, Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering
(2014)
Dunn Foundation Award, Dunn Foundation
Cozzarelli Prize 2012, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Gates Foundation Award, Gates Foundation
Faculty Initiatives Award, Rice University (2012)
Dunn Foundation Award, (December 2012)
Collaborative Research Fund, Simmons Foundation (2011)
IBB Medical Innovations Award, Sid Richardson Foundation (2011)
Hamill Innovator Award, Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (July 12, 2007)
Women's Resource Center Impact Award, Women's Resource Center at Rice University (spring
semester 2006)